Disclaimer:I own nothing of Persona 3 or the Shin Megami Tensei series.
Akihiko Sanada never really asked for much. If he wanted to do something, he did it, no questions or permission asked for.
He wanted to get stronger, so he learned how to fight.
When Shinji stole that doll for Miki when they were kids, he didn't ask him to return it. He dragged his friend back demanding that they do the right thing.
If he wanted to take a walk out in the Dark Hour to fight some Shadows, then he told Mitsuru what he was doing and left, never mind her protests.
Akihiko also really didn't believe in God , or any kind of higher power. But for this one thing...
It was the night after Shinjiro Aragaki's funeral service, and the captain of the boxing team found himself wandering down the all too familiar road to the Shrine, the soft light of the moon showing him the way.
He and Shinji took this road often, even when they were younger. In recent days, it was when they took Koromaru for a walk, both of them laughing and smiling as they watched the dog having such a good time.
But when he arrived, he stood there. There was no smile to be found on his face, instead glaring desperately at a Shrine that he truly felt had little to no purpose...before this night.
And at this moment, he not only prayed that a god was there, but he fell to his knees, tears falling down his face as he silently begged for someone to listen.
"If someone is there, anyone, then please...please tell me he's at peace! Please tell me that his regrets in life died with him! And please...tell me that he knew...that despite my cowardice and my...my inability to say a damn word tell me he knew that I-!"
The softest chuckle rang through his ears and he leapt to his feet. "Shinji?" But the hope that swelled in him died as he realized it was just a soft breeze
...Then the dying hope turned to contentment.
Perhaps perhaps that was Shinji's way of saying 'Shut up, stupid. I know...'
"That...was all I could ask for." The grey haired teen wiped his eyes, and with a bittersweet smile on his face, left the Shrine.
The unspoken 'I love you' forever resting in his wake, where Akihiko and Shinji alone could hear it.